Meet the scientists!

Proteins are essential for all life: they are the “machines” in the cell, responsible for all important “jobs” such as copying DNA, maintaining chemical balance, producing energy. For each job, a different protein is needed with a different shape. So, understanding the shape of proteins allows us understand their function and can help us design better drugs, develop new ways to attack diseases and, overall, better understand how life works.

In order to find out the shape (we call it “structure”) of proteins, we use a technique called protein crystallography. Basically, we grow crystals of proteins (like diamonds, but in a very, very small scale) and then shine X-rays on them.

Instead of a nice picture of the protein, like when you break your arm and have your bones X-rayed, we get lots of pictures, full of little dots that relate to the position of the atoms in the protein.

We then use computers and maths to reconstruct a nice model of our protein structure.

Lately, I’ve been studying proteins from a fungus that can cause infections in humans. These proteins are at the surface of the fungus cells and can “stick” to our cells, causing disease. Our hypothesis is that if we know how they stick to human cells, we can try and develop drugs that can prevent that and therefore cure or prevent infections. 

My days vary considerably, depending at what stage of the work I am. At the start of a project we need to produce pure protein, so I’ll spend most days at the bench preparing buffers, solutions and setting up trays.

Once I’ve prepared the trays, have to look at all of them at the microscope to check if crystals have grown so I can test if they diffract, that is, if they produce the little dots we can then interpret.

At later stages of the project, I have to go and collect data and those days are quite different. I have to travel to special X-ray generators called synchrotrons to collect data. There are several in Europe: one near Oxford, two in France (near Paris and in the south, in Grenoble) and one in Switzerland. So I do get to travel around a bit. However, these are usually quick trips, just 24h to collect our data and back home to analyse the data.

I’ll then spend most of day at the computer analysing the data, looking at what we call electron density maps that are visual representations of where atoms in the protein are .

Amongst all this, I also have to keep up to date with literature, check my emails, discuss the progress of the project with the head of the group and help supervise students, from undergraduates doing their final year project to master and PhD students. I also help other colleagues with their projects. 

It all seems a bit hectic – and sometimes it is! – but I love all aspects of what I do and I must say my days are rarely boring!

The idea is simple: adopting the “speed dating” format to talk about science. I’ve thought of 2 different formats: one where scientists will meet a non-scientist audience (events could be organised for students and other audiences). Each scientist would have 5min to explain their research and answer 3 questions and then people are swapped around. At the end of the event, people should be more aware of what kind of research is being done.

Its a simple and fun way to communicate science that will hopefully appeal to all audiences. 

The prize would help with all logistics to organize such event.